Mastering Interpretations Essays: Step-by-Step Guide

How to write Part A (INTERPRETATIONS) essays

Step 1: Decode the question, work out how to answer it. Read the question a couple of times. Highlight each of the following. You could use a different colour for each. Date/ Geographical boundaries What time period should you cover in your answer? Where? Just England? Stick to this carefully otherwise you waste time writing about events/places that are not relevant to the question. Content focus The topic the examiner wants you to focus on. Is it asking you about Wolsey s financial management? Henry VII s control of the nobility? You will be judging the strengths of the interpretations of the FOCUS. You may need to define a concept such as effectiveness what does this mean? Question Type Interpretations what are the interpretations and what evidence supports of challenges them? Analytical criteria What does it mean by most convincing ? Most could mean quantity of evidence to support it how much evidence is there to support this? Convincing could be about the quality of the evidence how strong is it? Validity is it correct?

Make sure you FOCUS on the specific topic named in the question rather than straying off to cover everything mentioned in the extract.

FIND the INTERPRETATIONS: Your first line should start by stating that there is evidence to support the interpretation that ______________ in extract _____ . However, it should also state that there is also evidence to support the interpretation offered by extract b ______ which must also be considered . Outline all interpretations that will be discussed in essay. F A C E ANALYTICAL CRITERIA: You then need to outline how you will make judgements about how convincing the interpretations are. E.g. quantity, quality and strength of evidence to support or challenge the interpretation. CLAIM: what is your answer to the question? YOU MUST STATE THIS IN YOUR INTRODUCTION. Many of you have started writing without knowing the answer to the question. Remember there is no right or wrong answer what is your gut feeling? The most convincing interpretation is _____ because ____ (see below) EXAMPLE EVIDENCE: State one detailed piece of evidence that supports your CLAIM. This will ensure that your introduction has included all of the elements needed for a level 5 answer.

F A C E There is evidence to support the interpretation offered in Extract ___that _____________, however, there is also evidence to support the interpretation _____________, offered by Extract B_________. In order to assess the validity of the interpretations the strength, quality and quantity of evidence supporting and challenging the interpretations was assessed. The assessment of the evidential support demonstrated that Extract _________ was the most convincing because __________________.

INTERPRETATION: SUMMARISE in your OWN WORDS. I EVIDENCE: find EVIDENCE (quote/s) from the EXTRACT that SUPPORT the INTERPRETATION. CONTEXTUAL EVIDENCE to SUPPORT: what do you know from your own knowledge that supports the INTERPRETATION? ANALYSE IT USING CRITERIA. C E CONTEXTUAL EVIDENCE to CHALLENGE: what do you know from your own knowledge that challenges the INTERPRETATION? ANALYSE IT USING CRITERIA. EVALUATE: weigh up the EVIDENCE and ANALYSIS to support and challenge the INTERPRETATION and make a JUDGEMENT as to HOW CONVINCING THE INTERPRETATION IS. COMPARE to the OTHER INTERPRETATIONS.

J O K E R Judgement state your judgement as to which INTERPRETATION is most convincing. Outline the OTHER interpretations. Kriticise the EVIDENCE to support the OTHER INTERPRETATIONS using your ANALYTICAL CRITERIA. Why are the OTHER INTERPRETATIONS unconvincing? Explain why your chosen INTERPRETATION is the most convincing. Use your ANALYTICAL CRITERIA to show why it is more convincing than the other INTERPRETATIONS. Repeat repeat your judgement as a final thought. Use the word Thus. , Consequently or Therefore,